For some candidates, the campaign finance reports covering April 1 through April 25 read like a who's who in Newport News' political circles. In the south district, where three people are vying for the seat held by retiring Vice Mayor Chuck Allen, Tina Vick received $250 from Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton; $250 from State Del. Mamye BaCote, D-Newport News; $250 from Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News; and $234 raised by Joni Ivey, Scott's...

The City Council on Tuesday sidestepped a potential race issue by selecting redistricting maps that left Hilton Village in the Central District instead of moving it to the South District. The city is redistricting for City Council and School Board races based on shifting population as a result of the 2010 U.S. Census. The council is expected to vote on the issue in July. Council members at Tuesday's afternoon workshop did not address race when discussing the redistricting proposals, despite Councilman Joe Whitaker on Monday telling the Daily Press that he believed many people in Hilton Village were prejudiced against blacks.

NEWPORT NEWS Newport News is split into three voting districts: South, Central and North. The South District goes from the southern tip of Newport News to roughly Mercury Boulevard, and it also includes neighborhoods where children attend Sedgefield, Carver, Watkins, South Morrison and Saunders elementary schools. The Central District stretches from the Hilton area to Kiln Creek and Menchville. The North District is roughly from Denbigh to the northern tip of the city.

UPDATE: Voters in the Central District of Newport News were outpacing their neighboring districts as of 4:30 p.m. The city voter registrar's office tallied 13,976 votes by then, with 8,111 from Central District precincts. Registrar Vicki Lewis said turnout remains low, but she is hoping for higher numbers by the time the polls close at 7:30 p.m. The South District has the lightest turnout, with 2,187 voters casting ballots in the first 10 hours of voting. In the North District precincts, 3,678 votes were tallied.

UPDATE: Voters in the Central District of Newport News were outpacing their neighboring districts as of 4:30 p.m. The city voter registrar's office tallied 13,976 votes by then, with 8,111 from Central District precincts. Registrar Vicki Lewis said turnout remains low, but she is hoping for higher numbers by the time the polls close at 7:30 p.m. The South District has the lightest turnout, with 2,187 voters casting ballots in the first 10 hours of voting. In the North District precincts, 3,678 votes were tallied.

As a longtime resident of the Central District in Newport News I am delighted that Angela Herring is willing to serve our schools as an elected member of the School Board. I have known Herring for 17 years in many capacities — breast cancer support group facilitator, business woman, community activist and personal friend. She is a natural educator, which she has demonstrated in many fields, and a leader of people. I have always been favorably impressed with her enthusiasm, attention to detail, thoroughness of preparation and ability to communicate regardless of the venue.

My dear friend Angela Herring is entering the political arena. She is running for a seat on the Newport News School Board in the Central District. If you vote in that district, or know anyone who does, please consider her. Herring was my personal physician for close to 20 years and is looking forward to keeping busy in her retirement. I have always considered her a trusted friend, and she is an extremely hard worker. She demonstrates good judgment and is a very fair-minded individual.

The Poquoson City Council recently named two new members to the Poquoson School Board. Clifford T. Bowen and John A. Costulis each were appointed late last month to three-year terms beginning July 1. School officials expect to swear them in at their next meeting. Bowen, a lieutenant with the Newport News Police Department, will represent the Central District. He replaces James French, who chose not to seek another term. Costulis, an aerospace engineer at NASA Langley Research Center, will replace S. Michael Evans in the Western District.

The following are candidates who will appear on today's ballots in local town and city elections. Incumbents are identified by (I). NEWPORT NEWS SCHOOL BOARD North District (1 seat) Destiny D. Brown William J. Collins III Jananne D. Archibald South District Everette A. Hicks Sr. (I) Central District Richard B. Donaldson Jr. (I) NEWPORT NEWS CITY COUNCIL Central District A. Ben Brown William F. Haskins Jr. (I) North District Kurt W. Ebersole A. Madeline McMillan (I)

1. Why are you running for election? I am running for the School Board to bring better representation for parents and teachers at the School Board on issues that affect their children in Newport News Public Schools. I grew up in Newport News and I am a product of the Newport News Public Schools. Today I have a daughter who is thriving in Newport News schools and I want to see more of our children have this kind of engagement and success in our school division. I believe that we have very good programs for high-performing students and special needs students.

Three candidates for the Newport News School Board Central District seat had conflicting opinions about the district's 39-year-old court-approved desegregation busing plan. The candidates — Jeff Stodghill, Renee Beamer and Angela Herring — are all political newcomers and longtime Central District residents. Stodghill and Beamer graduated from Newport News high schools, and Stodghill said he was in the first class affected by the busing plan. They were asked about the plan at a candidate forum Thursday at the School Board offices.

My dear friend Angela Herring is entering the political arena. She is running for a seat on the Newport News School Board in the Central District. If you vote in that district, or know anyone who does, please consider her. Herring was my personal physician for close to 20 years and is looking forward to keeping busy in her retirement. I have always considered her a trusted friend, and she is an extremely hard worker. She demonstrates good judgment and is a very fair-minded individual.

As a longtime resident of the Central District in Newport News I am delighted that Angela Herring is willing to serve our schools as an elected member of the School Board. I have known Herring for 17 years in many capacities — breast cancer support group facilitator, business woman, community activist and personal friend. She is a natural educator, which she has demonstrated in many fields, and a leader of people. I have always been favorably impressed with her enthusiasm, attention to detail, thoroughness of preparation and ability to communicate regardless of the venue.

After a decade on the Newport News School Board, attorney Rick Donaldson announced today that he will not run for re-election. Donaldson, who holds one of the board's two Central District seats, was completing the term of former board member Pat Woodbury, who was elected to the City Council in 2008. Donaldson was first elected in 2000 and re-elected four years later in the Central District and has served as Board Chairman and as a member of its budget committee during his tenure.

A retired physician and School Board critic will run for the board's Central District seat in the May 4 election. Angela Herring announced her candidacy on Tuesday and said she is gathering the required signatures she needs to run for election. The school district is divided into three districts: South, Central and North. Two board members serve each district, and a seventh board member serves as a representative of the district at large. Herring was one of 16 applicants for the Central District seat after former board member Pat Woodbury was elected to the City Council in 2008.

The political action committee that hoped to get rid of the incumbents on the Newport News City Council is looking at Tuesday's election as a victory. And yet, the main race was handily won by a candidate RIDPAC opposed, Mayor Joe S. Frank. And two incumbents didn't run for re-election in the first place. RIDPAC - the Restore Integrity in Democracy Political Action Committee - endorsed Joseph C. Ritchie for mayor. Frank defeated Ritchie by a 15,319 to 5,576 vote, according to unofficial results.